History

At this location a high castle was already spotted in the 11th and 12th centuries. Four times this eagle's nest was destroyed from the land. Only the 11th-century keep has been preserved. The ruins of this military stronghold consist mainly of that keep with a remnant of about 13m of wall that is 1.70m to 3.30m thick. The first written notes of the Ruins of Cavrenne date back to 1235. In 1489, the then prince-bishopric of Liège ordered the destruction of the castle. 

Restorations

The castle has known different periods of decay and flowering, and has therefore been rebuilt several times throughout history in different styles. In 1850, the future baron Alfred Brugmann bought the ruin and made many restorations. He had them restored in 1881 in a kind of Spanish-Flemish style by architect Émile Janlet. The castle in this version can be seen on many postcards and drawings from the belle époque. 

In 1930, Baron Frédéric Brugmann de Walzin had the castle rebuilt again, this time by architect Octave Flanneau. He opted for the Maasland style, which is common in the region, which gave the castle its current, well-known, appearance. The works were completed in 1932. The gardens of the castle were designed by architect Louis Julien Breydel, who also has the Botanical Garden in Brussels to his name. The castle is located in a wooded area, the Bois du Chaleux. 

Visit the castle

Unfortunately you cannot visit the Castle and walking around the domain is not possible. However from the meadow opposite the Castle you can have the most beautiful view. There are a number of ways to get here. The best we recommend is with the canoe. From the water you have a magnificent view of the castle from afar. Secondly, take the car and drive to rue du Bois de Baileu. Here you can park in the roadside and then you can already see the castle looming. Finally, you can take the Two Castles walk from Gendron. It is a walking route of no less than 15 km but surely recommended for the ones who love to take a walk.